[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SPEAK ENGLISH

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 24, 2007

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, walk into any public school, police station, 
or hospital and you will surely hear public officials speaking in 
another language than English. We are using taxes from hardworking 
Americans to hire employees for the sole purpose of being able to 
communicate with people who refuse to learn English. These people are 
making the choice not to assimilate as Americans and learn English, but 
keeping their allegiance to Mexico or whichever country they immigrated 
from. The United States has had a long history of immigrants, but all 
of the different cultures desired to become one unified America. The 
English language was the common bridge to which these cultures could 
relate, and the same can still hold true today. That is why I 
passionately encourage the passing of H.R. 997, the English Language 
Unity Act of 2007.
  This bill will require official functions of the United States to be 
conducted in English only. In addition, it declares that the English 
language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or 
private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with the laws of the 
United States.
  I believe Teddy Roosevelt had it right when he said: ``There can be 
no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but is 
something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one 
flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and 
that is the English language . . . and we have room for but one sole 
loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.''
  And that's just the way it is.

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